Music review: Gunday has entertaining songs

January 26, 2014 17:00 IST

Though not all songs are chart-buster material, Gunday offers a lot of variety in its soundtracks, writes Joginder Tuteja.

One always expects much from the music of a Yash Raj film. One expects even more from Gunday considering the chartbusting music that its composer Sohail Sen had given for director Ali Abbas Zafar's debut film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.

Gunday doesn’t disappoint, with the ever-reliable lyricist Irshad Kamil teaming up with Zafar for the film that has the hot-n-happening cast of Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Kapoor.

There’s a new-age sound to Jashn-e-Ishqa, which sets the tone for the rest of the album. There is enough ferocity in the soundtrack, what with Javed Ali and Shadab Faridi coming together and demonstrating their camaraderie.

There is a touch of fusion with O Shona followed by a Bengali verse. Tune Maari Entriyaan is pretty much the kind of song that would give competition to Pritam's Dil Mein Baji Guitar (Apna Sapna Money Money).

It is the perfect combination of Sohail's composition, Irshad's lyrics and a fabulous rendition by Vishal Dadlani and KK.

Moreover, once Neeti Mohan comes on the scene and Bappi Lahiri does his add-on part, you know it will be hard to let go of this one.

In the Bengali version of Tune Maari Entriyaan Bappi Lahiri takes charge, writing the lyrics too with Gautam Susmit. He is youthful like never before and is clearly enjoying his time behind the mike for this fun track.

Just for this song it would be interesting to see the film in Bengali for the added spunk that comes in with Bappi Lahiri. Monali Thakur goes all out to make the best use of the platform provided to her. A chartbuster all the way.

Arijit Singh, who just doesn't seem to be capable of singing a bad song, makes an entry with Jiya. His voice turns husky and seductive to suit the song with which Ranveer serenades Priyanka in some exotic locales. The song has an Indian classical base. Though the mukhda is decent, it is the antara portions that are more impressive, reminding one of the kind of rendition that Kishore Kumar excelled in.

Neha Bhasin is the voice of Priyanka Chopra for Asalaam-e-Ishqum. However, the real surprise is Bappi Lahiri who is just so very good in the way he kick-starts

the song and then arrives on the scene later on.

He may have sung a few uninspiring songs in the interim period but it is clear that for Gunday he is on fire. Neha comes back for this ’80s style composition which could well have been set in a villain's den in the Amrish Puri/Danny Denzongpa era. Composer Sohail Sen does well to fuse it with Western arrangements while ensuring the overall tune is catchy.

It is the 'Kanha-Meera' love story that kick-starts Saaiyaan. Shahid Mallya sings this one serenely in the beginning and once the hook of Saaiyaan comes on, you know that there would be impressive picturisation to keep one engaged in the on-screen proceedings. Though it isn't the kind of song that turns out to be the USP of an album, it fits in well with rest of the soundtrack.

Traditional qawwali in a new avatar comes in with Shadab Faridi and Altamash Faridi in Mann Kunto Maula. Those who like this style of music will find this song appealing, with Sohail successfully incorporating a Western sound. A situational outing which is sung well and is also heard in a classical version. Purists who like their music to be untouched by outside influences will like this one. Mann Kunto Maula is unlikely to be the rage, but it should go well with the narrative.

Ali Abbas Zafar turns lyricist for the remaining two numbers in the album. Composer Sohail sings the title song Gunday along with rapper Kinga Rhymes. One senses A R Rahman’s influence in the way this number unfolds. Rahman's styling is obvious in the build up, the overall sound and the way the transition takes place from mukhda to antara. One can sense that this will be played in a montage sequence that highlights the rise of the two Gundays.

The thumping sound of an engine horn makes way for some drum beats in Rhythm of Jashn-e-Ishqa. A short two-minute piece, it has Shadab Faridi doing a Sukhwinder Singh, and rather successfully too. One wished one could hear a little more of this theme track.

The music of Gunday has a lot of variety. There are ample theme tracks, the fun element with Tune Maari Entriyaan, and the filmy appeal of Asalaam-e-Ishqum. There are lighter tracks in Saaiyaan and Jiya.

Though not all songs are chart-buster material, overall Gunday scores well.